Brassiere construction



April 5, 1966- HR. STURGES 3,244,175

BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION I Filed Oct. 27, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HULDA R. STURGES April 1966 H. R. STURGES 3,244,175

BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Fil ed Oct. 27, 1964 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HULDA R. STURGES April 1966 H. R. STURGES 3,244,175

BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 27, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 HULDA R. STURGES United States Patent Ofifice 3,244,175 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 3,244,175 BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Hulda R. Sturges, 924 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Oct. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 408,459 4 Claims. (Cl. 128465) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application, Serial No. 201,390 now matured into issued Patent No. 3,191,602.

This invention relates to a brassiere construction and more particularly to a brassiere construction which may be utilized properly to support breasts in a very comfortable and attractive manner and which may be constructed as an integral part of various garments or which may be produced and used only as a brassiere.

The prior art contains many structures intended for use in the healthful and attractive support of breasts. However, such prior art structures are usually uncomfortable or impractical for various reasons.

It is well known that the conventional sponge rubber structures, while they provide attractive artificial contours, they tend toward dehydration and deteriorating effects upon the natural breasts.

Additionally, prior art brassiere structures usually employ a band which surrounds the wearers torso directly under the breasts and many of these band-type structures tend toward an uncomfortable chafing below the breasts. This condition is usually due to the necessity for supporting the breasts and under these conditions, the upper edge of the torso encircling band tends to cut and chafe at a transition of the lower portions of the breasts with the wearers body.

It will be appreciated that many of the prior art structures are either uncomfortable or tend toward deteriorating effects upon the wearer.

It has been an object of previous inventions to support the breasts in an attractive contoured shape so that they do not sag and so that they are supported in a healthful condition.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel brassiere construction which supports breasts in a very attractive and healthful manner and which is very comfortable to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brassiere construction in which fabric covered semi-rigid stays are disposed in a curved loop under the breasts to thereby support them and provide a smooth convex surface below the breasts which does not tend to chafe them or the wearers body at a transition of the torso and the breasts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brassiere construction wherein fabric covered stays are formed in a convex loop structure in connection with a torso encircling band whereby the loop structure of the fabric covered stays is a lightweight structure having great strength and providing a smooth convex surface under the breasts through which there is substantial ventilation, all of which contributes to comfortable and healthful breas-t-supporting conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brassiere construction which is readily adaptable to use without shoulder straps due to the incorporation of the brassiere construction in a bodice structure having upwardly and angularly directed stays which are sewed into fabric of the bodice and which are directed from a location substantially coinciding with a normal strap supporting location and downwardly around the body of the wearer whereby the structure of the brassiere portion is amply supported without shoulder straps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel brassiere construction in which breast supports thereof may individually be adjusted to accommodate two breasts of an individual which are of a diiferent size or shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel brassiere construction which supports breasts in an unusually attractive manner and which is provided with a removable and adjustable lace overlay which may be varied or changed according to the desired dress of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brassiere construction in which fabric covered semi-rigid stays are disposed in a curved loop under the breasts of a wearer to thereby support said breasts and to provide a smooth convex surface below the breasts which does not tend to chafe them or the wearers body at the transition of the torso and the breasts and wherein a flexible fabric cup is disposed forwardly of the curved loop shaped breasts supports and disposed to support said breasts near their frontal portions and forwardly beyond the loop shaped breasts support-s.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel brassiere construction wherein a bodice or torso encircling band is provided with a plurality of fabric covered stays disposed to be worn below each breast of a wearer; said stays directed upwardly, forwardly and downwardly in a convex loop portion adjacent the breasts; said loop portions having a support internally thereof and engaging said stays; said support connected to shoulder straps thereby efiiciently supporting said loop portions directly under the breasts whereby the breasts may be supported on a smooth contoured surface and also prevented from being displaced downwardly thereon toward the wearers body.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the brassiere construction of the invention shown on a fragmentary portion of a persons torso;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the brassiere construction, shown in 'FIG. 1, and illustrating said construction in flat open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the brassiere construction of the invention incorporated in a garment and illustrating said construction in a strapless form;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken from the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the brassiere construction of the invention taken directly below and in supporting relationship with a human breast;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a normally rear side view of a cover or overlay lace structure of the brassiere construction of the in vention;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a breast supporting flexible cup forwardly of a breast supporting stay structure and illustrating by broken lines the bendable relationship of the stay structure into a loop shaped structure into a position, as illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing a breast supporting cup forwardly of the loop shaped breasts support and illustrating the cup shaped breast support supporting the frontal portion of a breast; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 1111 of FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the brassiere construction of the invention is provided with a torso encircling band 10 having straps 12 and 14 on opposite ends thereof. These straps 12 and 14 may be fastened at the back of the wearer by conventional fasteners, as desired.

The torso band may be an integral part of a bodice 16 of various garments, if desired. As for example, the torso band 18 may be an integral part of a bodice 16, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, which bodice may include features of a strapless brassiere and garter belt structure.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the torso band 10 and/or bodice 16 may be a common structure included in bathing suits or any other conventional garment.

The torso band 10, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, is provided with a pair of fabric tabs 18 and 20 which normally extend upwardly when the structure is in flat position.

Sewed into the fabric tabs 18 and 20 are normally vertical stays 22 which may be made of any suitable material, as desired. These materials, for example, may be plastic, metal or any other semi-rigid material to lend support to the fabric tabs 18 and 28 when formed into upwardly, outwardly and downwardly extending loop shaped configuration, shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, and as will be hereinafter described.

The stays 22 extend vertically throughout the tabs 18 and 2.8 and preferably to a lower edge 24 of the band 10.

The tabs 18 and 28' are provided with arcuate fasteners 26 and 28 at their ends. The arcuate fasteners 26 and 28 each cooperate with any one of a plurality of complemental fasteners on the band 10, as for example, the fastener strip 26 may be secured to any one of three complemental fastener strips 30 while the fastener 28 may be secured to any one of three complemental fastener strips 32 on the band 10. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the fastener strip 26 is adjustably securable to any one of the fastener strips 38 by substantially folding the tab 18 into an upwardly, outwardly and downwardly extending loop shaped structure, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. When the brassiere structure, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, is made ready for use by a wearer, the tabs 26 and 28 are folded into upwardly, outwardly and downwardly extending loop shaped structures. Reference is made particularly to FIG. 5, wherein arrows A indicate a direction movement of the fastener strip 26 when the tabs 18 and stays 22 are folded into aloop shaped structure, as shown in FIG. 6' of the drawings. This loop shaped structure is, thus, formed under each breast of the wearer, in accordance with the present invention and a portion of the loop shaped structure is convex, at 34, directly under the breast and in.- termediate portions of the stays 22 are bent at 36 so that the downwardly extending portions 39 of the tab 18 and the stays 2.2 may form a slightly convex support spaced from the convex portion 34 of the tab 18 in order to provide a substantially natural contour below a breast, as indicated by broken lines B in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The fastener 26 may be secured to any one of the fastener strips 38 so that, initially, vertical adjustment of the breast B may be attained before the stays are bent at 36 to form a close transition of the curved portion 34 of the loop shaped structure and the lower contour of the breast, as indicated by broken lines B.

It will be appreciated that the convex portion of the loop shaped structure, as shown in FIG. 6, is supported internally by a strap structure 38 which extends across both tabs 18 and 28, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and which is held by fabric loops 48, which are sewed or otherwise secured to the fabric structure of the tabs 18 and 20. This strap 38 at its opposite ends 42 and 44 is connected to the band 18 in spaced relation to the tabs 18 and 2t) and shoulder straps 46 and 48 are connected by means of clips 50 and 52, respectively, to loops of the strap 38 between the tabs 18 and 20 and the respective. ends 42 and, 44 of the strap. 38.

It will be appreciated that this strap 38 is a strong fabric strap or may be made of semi-rigid material, if desired. This strap 38 abridges the stays 22 and, thus, lends positive support to the convex portion 34, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, whereby the loop structure under each breast is positively supported to prevent the breast from sagging or sliding down between the convex portion 34 and the wearers body.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the adjustability of the individual tabs 18 and 28 is a very important factor in fitting the brassiere construction of the invention to any person. who may have one breast which is larger than the other. For example, a large breast might be supported on the tab 18 when formed into the loop shaped structure, shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. In this instance, the fastener 26 might be secured to the lowermost fastener strip 30. Conversely, the same person might have a smaller breast which may be supported on the tab 28 when in a loop shaped configuration, as shown in FIG. 6. In this instance, the fastener 28 might be secured to the uppermost fastener strip 32, in order to elevate the small breast to a level comparable with the upper portion of the larger breast, supported on the tab 18.

The shoulder straps 46 and 48 are provided with short sections of elastic material 54 and 56, respectvely, which provides certain resilience of these straps to accommodate for relative movement of the wearers shoulders under varying conditions.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8 of the drawings, the invention comprises an ornamental overlay or cover structure 58 which may be made of lace or other material having aesthetic appeal. This overlay or cover 58 also has utilitarian functions. Namely, in providing coverage for nipple portions C of the breasts, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. This overlay or cover 58 also extends downwardly at its lower edge portions 68 to overlap the loop shaped structure formed by the tabs 18 and 20. Thus, the overlay or cover 58 assumes a contour of a normal attractive full busted person.

Opposite ends of the overlay or cover 58 are provided with fastener strips 62 and 64 which are adjustably securable to complemental fastener strips 66 and 68 on the band 10 outwardly of respective tabs 18 and 28. There are a plurality of the strips 66 and 68 so that the respective fastener strips 62 and 64 of the overlay 58 may be adjustably secured on these strips of the band 10 in order to properly accommodate breasts of various sizes which may be supported on the brassiere structure of the invention.

In the structure as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a semi-rigid stay member 70 is disposed on each side of the bodice 16 and sewed thereinto. This stay 78 is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and may be made of any suitable material which can be used for this purpose. The stay '70 extends from a normal shoulder strap location 72 downwardly and around the side of the bodice 16 in a position which may overlie an upper portion of the wearers hip or which may extend around and be secured to the back of a garment near its vertical fastener, zipper or other structure, as desired.

The up and down disposition of the stay 78 is not vertical, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, but it is assumed that the vertical components of support provided by this stay 70 may be equivalent to various modifications thereof which might be disposed vertically to the waistband structureor middle portion of the bodice 16, as desired.

This stay structure 78 may be disposed on each side of the bodice 16 and provides support to elevate the necessity of having the conventional straps indicated by broken lines D, in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Thus, the brassiere structure of the invention, shown in FIG. 3, is readily adapted to a strapless gown, bathing suit or any other garment which may expose the bare shoulders in an attractive mannen.

As shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, a cup shaped breast support 80 is generally arcuate in cross section, as shown in FIG. 11 and having opposite edge portions 82 and 84 stitched or otherwise secured to the torso band 10. Substantially vertical stays 84 are sewed into the cup 80, as shown best in FIGS. 9 and 11 of the drawings. Each cup 80 is disposed forwardly of a respective loop shaped breast support 18, as hereinbefore described.

Each cup shaped breast supporting 80 is disposed forwardly of the respective loop shaped breast support 18 and is provided with a supporting surface 86 which supports a breast B near its frontal portions C and forwardly of the loop shaped breast support 18. The stays 84 being vertically disposed are slightly curved at 88 to follow the natural contour of the lower portion of the breast and to provide a substantially broad support for the frontal portion thereof forwardly of the loop shaped breast support 18.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the structures shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings may be employed when it is necessary to support breasts forwardly of the loop shaped portions 18 and substantially therebeyond.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art further that all of the supporting features of the brassiere, hereinbefore described, may be applied to the structures shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a brassiere construction the combination of: a torso band; and pair of tabs connected to said band; said tabs extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from said band; one free end of each tab removably and adjustably secured to said band and forming a loop having an upwardly directed convex curvature disposed to bear beneath a breast of a wearer; and stay means disposed in each loop shaped tab, said stay means also extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from said band; and cups secured to said torso engaging means and extending around and spaced forwardly of respective ones of said loop shaped breast supports, said cups disposed to support lower portions of breasts near the frontal portions thereof and forwardly of said loop shaped breast supports.

2. In a brassiere construction the combination of: a torso band; a pair of tabs connected to said band; said tabs extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from said band; one free end of each tab removably and adjustably secured to said band and forming a loop having an upwardly directed convex curvature disposed to bear beneath a breast of a wearer; and stay means disposed in each loop shaped tab, said stay means also extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from said band; fastener means secured to each of said free ends of each said tabs; and second fastener means disposed on said band arranged adjustably to engage and hold said fastener means of said tabs, whereby said loop structure may be adjusted vertically to accommodate various sized breasts or breasts of varying disposition; and cups secured to said torso engaging means and extending around and spaced forwardly of respective ones of said loop shaped breast supports, said cups disposed to support lower portions of breasts near the frontal portions thereof and forwardly of said loop shaped breast supports.

3. In a garment construction for supporting breasts the combination of: torso engaging means; loop shaped breast supports carried by and extending from said torso engaging means; said loop shaped breast supports extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from said torso engaging means; upwardly directed convex surfaces of said loop portions disposed to be worn adjacent to lower surfaces of a wearers breast; stay means in said loop shaped breast supports; said stay means extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly through said loop shaped breast supports; and cups secured to said torso engaging means and extending around and spaced forwardly of respective ones of said loop shaped breast supports, said cups disposed to support lower portions of breasts near the frontal portions thereof and forwardly of said loop shaped breast supports.

4. In a garment construction for supporting breasts the combination of: torso engaging means; loop shaped breast supports carried by and extending from said torso engaging means; said loop shaped breast supports extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from said torso engaging means; upwardly directed convex surfaces of said loop portions disposed to be worn adjacent to lower surfaces of a wearers breast; stay means in said loop shaped breast supports; said stay means extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly through said loop shaped breast supports; said tabs being of fabric material thereby providing for ventilation through said loop shaped breast supports for breasts supported on said convex surfaces; and cups secured to said torso engaging means and extending around and spaced forwardly of respective ones of said loop shaped breast supports, said cups disposed to support lower portions of breasts near the frontal portions thereof and forwardly of said loop shaped breast supports.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 788,915 5/1905 Kops l28468 2,884,928 5/1959 Baer 128-475 2,970,597 2/1961 Michel 128482 3,115,141 12/1963 Means et al 128-484 3,149,635 9/1964 Garutso 128477 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,179,574 12/1958 France.

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

2. IN A BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION THE COMBINATION OF: A TORSO BAND; A PAIR OF TABS CONNECTED TO SAID BAND; SAID TABS EXTENDING UPWARDLY, FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BAND; ONE FREE END OF EACH TAB REMOVABLY AND ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO SAID BAND AND FORMING A LOOP HAVING AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED CONVEX CURVATURE DISPOSED TO BEAR BENEATH A BREAST OF A WEARER; AND STAY MEANS DISPOSED IN EACH LOOP SHAPED TAB, SAID STAY MEANS ALSO EXTENDING UPWARDLY, FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BAND; FASTENER MEANS SECURED TO EACH OF SAID FREE ENDS OF EACH SAID TABS; AND SECOND FASTENER MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID BAND ARRANGED ADJUSTABLY TO ENGAGE AND HOLD SAID FASTENER MEANS OF SAID TABS, WHEREBY SAID LOOP STRUCTURE MAY BE ADJUSTED VERTICALLY TO ACCOMMODATE VARIOUS SIZE BREASTS OR BREASTS OF VARYING DISPOSITION; AND CUPS SECURED TO SAID TORSO ENGAGING MEANS AND EXTENDING AROUND AND SPACED FORWARDLY OF RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID LOOP SHAPED BREAST SUPPORTS, SAID CUPS DISPOSED TO SUPPORT LOWER PORTIONS OF BREASTS NEAR THE FRONTAL PORTIONS THEEOF AND FORWARDLY OF SAID LOOP SHAPED BREAST SUPPORTS. 